Piloting an evidence-based group treatment programme for high risk sex offenders with intellectual disability in the New Zealand setting.

Alternative Therapies

April 2021

Full Citation

Sakdalan, J., & Collier, V. (2012). Piloting an evidence-based group treatment programme for high risk sex offenders with intellectual disability in the New Zealand setting. New Zealand Journal of Psychology (Christchurch. 1983), 41(3), 6–12.

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of research on the effectiveness of sex offender treatment programmes particularly with sex offenders with intellectual disability (ID). There is a lack of concerted effort to develop evidenced-based sex offender treatment programmes for individuals with ID in New Zealand (NZ). This study aimed to run a pilot study on the use of an adapted sex offender treatment programme for individuals with ID in NZ who have been found to be at high risk of sexual recidivism and are placed in secure settings. Method: A multiple case study design was used to assess the viability of an adapted sex offender treatment programme which was developed for forensic clients with intellectual disability who were placed in a secure facility and were assessed to be at high risk of sexual recidivism. This adapted programme was based on a community-based ID sex offender treatment programme developed in the UK. The three participants considered in this study were assessed for risk of sexual recidivism, sexual knowledge, victim empathy and cognitive distortions and attitudes to condone and/or support sex offences prior to attending the programme, upon completion and at one-year follow up. The SAFE-ID was a seven-month pilot programme which was largely guided by the SOTSEC-ID treatment manual. In addition, it incorporated an adapted dialectic behaviour therapy (DBT) coping skills training developed by the authors to teach the participants behavioural coping skills to deal with emotional dysregulation, poor frustration tolerance and poor social skills. Results: The study result showed that the three participants demonstrated a marked improvement in sexual knowledge and victim empathy as well as a marked reduction in cognitive distortions and attitudes that condone and/or support sex offences after completing the programme. Furthermore, there was a noted decrease in the dynamic risk factors after completion of the programme and at one-year follow up. Two of the participants who were residing in a secure facility were reported by staff to show a marked reduction in inappropriate and/or sexually abusive behaviours and other problematic behaviours. The participant, who was under a community secure order, came off his order a year after completing the programme. Conclusions: This pilot study indicated that the SAFE-ID programme showed promise as a potentially viable treatment programme for ID sex offenders who carry a high risk of sexual offending within a secure setting. However, caution should be taken as only three case studies were involved. There is a need to validate the effectiveness of this programme with larger sample size, longer follow-up period and a randomised controlled trial. Further research on the use of DBT in the treatment of sex offenders with ID is recommended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)